Fears

Laura Dotson 1964 (Pittsburgh, Pa)



At night in your head
do you get a slight dread
that there could be something
under your bed?

Do you cringe at the thought
that you just might get caught
by a hand grasping tight
if you turn out the light?

And could it be true
as I say this to you
that the closet door that was shut this morning
is now opened a hair forewarning?

Does the skin on your neck feel a chill
do the hairs on your arms stand up at will
do the floorboards make sounds
as silence abounds?

And what was that noise?
could it just be your toys
waking up as the clock strikes eleven?
it's been four hours since you said goodnight
for you it's been bedtime at seven.

But no, you can't sleep
and your heart skips a beat
grab your teddy, hide your face in a pillow
And that shadow you see
why it's only a tree
a scary old weeping willow

The door suddenly opens
and creaks just a bit
you're afraid to look up at the sight
But too good to be true
It's mommy, you knew
just checking to see you're all right.

About this poem

Being a child, kids fears

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Written on April 13, 2006

Submitted by redruminthefirst on July 27, 2022

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:05 min read
22

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABA XXCC DDBB EEFF GGHCH XXIJJI XXCDDC
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 979
Words 210
Stanzas 7
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6

Laura Dotson

Co-Author of Personas, Unraveling and Carnage. Pseudo of Laura Lollie, Mother of four in East Tennessee. more…

All Laura Dotson poems | Laura Dotson Books

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1 Comment
  • Dougla$Irishman
    Wow, what can I say, what a genuine kids poem
    Such originally, your thoughts are beyond compare
    This is a classic poem, as I was reading it, I was there !
    Wanting to see more !
    LikeReply1 year ago
    • redruminthefirst
      That's so cool! thanks! I remember that dread. lol
      LikeReply1 year ago

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"Fears" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/132635/fears>.

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